Air Inflation Accelerator

ABSTRACT

An air inflation accelerator for increasing the rate of inflation of an air pump inflating a product, the accelerator comprising an elongated tubular member connectable to an inflator appliance at a first end and connectable to a valve of the bladder of the product to be inflated at a second end, the tubular member having a plurality of air inlets to allow for use of the venturi principle and a closure mechanism for disengaging the air inlets once atmospheric pressure is reached within the bladder being inflated.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/882,155, filed on Sep. 25, 2013, the full disclosureof which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Inflatable mattresses or “airbeds” as they are often called, arecommonly used to provide a temporary resting surface while camping or toprovide additional sleeping accommodations for guests. One drawback toinflatable mattresses is the amount of time it takes to inflate themattress. Similarly, inflatable pool toys, floats and the like also taketime to inflate—the goal for the user again being a short inflationtime. Most such inflatable mattresses and inflatable water recreationitems are inflated using battery-operated or electric hand-held airpumps, although some use manual air pumps. The inflation nozzle of theair pump is inserted into the open valve on the product to be inflatedand the pump is activated, resulting in inflation to the inflatablebladder of the product being inflated. It would be beneficial to have adevice that is attachable to an existing air pump that would increasethe rate of inflation of the air pump being utilized that is easy touse, easy to store and light-weight to carry.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

An embodiment for a device for accelerating the inflation rate of an airpump includes an elongated tube having a sidewall, opposed open firstand second ends, and a plurality of air inlets spaced around theexterior of the tube between the open ends, the first open end having anozzle connectable to the valve of a product to be inflated and thesecond open end having an adaptor connectable to an inflator outlet, theacceleration device using the venture principle to increase air flowinto the product to be inflated.

In embodiments described herein, the acceleration device has a closuremechanism that operates to disrupt the air flow into the air inlets whena certain pressure within the product to be inflated is attained.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an air inflationaccelerator, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the air inflation accelerator of FIG. 1,shown in the open configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the air inflation accelerator of FIG.1, shown connected to an inflatable bladder in the open configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the air inflation accelerator of FIG.1, shown connected to an inflatable bladder in the closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. It will also be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that the present invention may be practicedwithout the specific details.

Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the embodiment being described.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsrepresent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an airinflation accelerator device 10 of an embodiment of the presentinvention. The air inflation accelerator device 10 comprises base 12,nozzle 14, air intake inlets 18, and adaptor 26.

Base 12 is a cylindrical tube having opposed open ends 13, 15. Nozzle 14and nozzle stop 16 are located at a first open end 13. Nozzle 14 isshaped and sized to fit into the valve 32 of the product 34 to beinflated, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Nozzle 14 comprises nozzle stop 16which forms a collar around the perimeter of nozzle 14 located mostopposite to open end 13 to provide a physical barrier to preventover-insertion of the nozzle 14 into the valve 32 and also to provide astop for the inlet closure 20. Although it is preferred for use with adouble-lock type valve, nozzle 14 can be shaped and sized to fit anyvalve in the industry. It is also within the scope of the presentinvention to provide a separate nozzle adaptor (not shown) toaccommodate different types and shapes of valves as such nozzle adaptorare known in the industry.

Adaptor 26 is located at a second open end 15. Adaptor 26 compriseslocking notch 24 which is a slot located in the sidewall of the base 12near the edge of open end 15. Locking notch 24 is shaped and sized witha channel 25 for receipt of a locking pin 28 that is located on theinflator outlet 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, locking pin 28 isinserted into channel 25 and base 12 is rotated so that locking pin 28locks into place in locking notch 24. As shown in the figures, there aretwo locking notches 24 preferably located on opposite sides of base 12.It is certainly within the scope of the present invention, however, foronly one locking notch 24 to be present or for the shape of lockingnotch 24 to be other than a slot having an open channel. Otherattachment and retaining means known in the industry can be used toensure that the inflator outlet 30 is securely connected to adaptor 26.Adaptor 26 is comprised of natural or man-made materials and is shapedand sized to interface with the existing inflator outlet 30.

The base portion located between open ends 13 and 15 comprises aplurality of air intake inlets 18 spaced around base 12 which eachextend entirely through the side wall of the base 12. Air intake inlets18 are preferably round for ease of manufacture, but other shapes couldalso be utilized. Device 10 further includes inlet closure 20 which isshaped and sized to fit over base 12 from open end 15 in a slidingengagement. Collar 22 of inlet closure 20 provides an easy grip for auser to grasp inlet closure 20 and move it to the desired position andalso assists in preventing inlet closure 20 from being moved too faronto inflator outlet 30.

Inlet closure 20 is movable from a first position (shown in FIG. 3)allowing air intake inlets 18 to function by permitting air to flow fromthe atmosphere through intake inlets 18 and into base 12, flowing intoproduct 34 through valve 32 to a second position (shown in FIG. 4)blocking exposure of intake inlets 18 from the atmosphere. Intake inlets18 increase the air intake volume to accelerate the rate of inflation ofthe inflator (not shown), using the venturi principle. Intake inlets 18will increase the rate of inflation to a point where the internalpressure of the product 34 being inflated reaches atmospheric pressure.Once atmospheric pressure has been reached, inlet closure 20 is movedfrom the open first position to the closed second position so that theinflator can complete inflation of the product to the desired pressureabove room pressure. Although the figures depict a manual inlet closure20, it is also within the scope of the present invention for inletclosure 20 to be connected to a sensor and an actuator which moves inletclosure 20 into the closed second position once atmospheric pressurewithin the product 34 has been reached.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to include audibleand/or visual alerts to signal when the inflatable bladder pressurereaches atmospheric pressure. An audible alert such as a whistle orother easily identifiable sound will activate when atmospheric pressurewithin the inflatable bladder is reached such that air begins to exitthrough the intake inlets. This alert will signal the user to move theinlet closure 20 over the intake inlets 18 or to activate an automaticinlet closure. Similarly, a visual alert such as a flashing light or aspecific color of light will activate when atmospheric pressure withinthe inflatable bladder is reached such that aire begins to exit throughthe intake inlets. This alert will signal the user to move the inletclosure 20 over the intake inlets 18 or to activate an automatic inletclosure.

While the figures depict intake inlets 18 arranged in 2 rows around thecircumference of base 12, it is within the scope of the presentinvention to have more or fewer rows and to have any number and size ofholes within each row. The accelerated inflation enhancement feature ofthe present invention can be used with any existing or newly designedelectric, battery, manual, built-in, handheld or foot inflator pump usedto inflate inflatable products including air mattresses, pool floats andother recreational items.

While the present invention is shown and described as being connected toan inflator outlet 30, which could be a pump interface or a pump hose,it is also within the scope of the present invention for the device 10to form an integrated and manufactured part of the inflator itself. Itis further contemplated that the device 10 can form an integrated andmanufactured part of the inflator even for built-in pumps which areintegrated into the product being inflated.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus,while the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof areshown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflation acceleration device comprising: Anelongated tubular member having a sidewall and having opposed open firstand second ends; A plurality of air inlets spaced around the exterior ofsaid tubular member, said plurality of air inlets located between saidopposed open first and second ends, said air inlets extending throughsaid tubular member sidewall, said air inlets being in fluidcommunication with both the tubular member external and internalatmospheres; A nozzle adjacent said first open end, said nozzleconnectable to a valve in fluid communication with the interior of aninflatable bladder that is to be inflated; Said tubular member connectedto an outlet of an inflator appliance at said second open end; Anengageable closure mechanism operable to substantially block the fluidcommunication between said tubular member external and internalatmospheres; Wherein said plurality of air inlets provide increased airflow into said inflatable bladder when said closure mechanism isdisengaged.
 2. The inflation acceleration device of claim 1, whereinsaid closure mechanism comprises a collar member slidingly engagedaround the exterior of said tubular member, said collar member movablebetween at least a first open position where said air inlets are exposedto the external atmosphere and a second closed position where said airinlets are substantially blocked from the external atmosphere.
 3. Theinflation acceleration device of claim 1, further comprising an adaptormember connecting said tubular member to an independent inflatorappliance.
 4. The inflation acceleration device of claim 1, furthercomprising an interface member connecting said nozzle to said valve. 5.The inflation acceleration device of claim 1, further comprising asensor member and an actuator member electrically connected to saidclosure member, said actuator member engaging said closure mechanismwhen a pressure inside said inflatable bladder to be inflated reachesatmospheric pressure.
 6. The inflation acceleration device of claim 1,further comprising an alert mechanism indicating that atmosphericpressure within said inflatable bladder has been achieved.
 7. Aninflation acceleration device connectable to an inflator appliance,comprising: An elongated tubular member having a sidewall and havingopposed open first and second ends; A plurality of air inlets spacedaround the exterior of said tubular member, said plurality of air inletslocated between said opposed open first and second ends, said air inletsextending through said tubular member sidewall, said air inlets being influid communication with both the tubular member external and internalatmospheres; A nozzle adjacent said first open end, said nozzleconnectable to a valve in fluid communication with the interior of aninflatable bladder that is to be inflated; Said tubular member connectedto an outlet of an inflator appliance at said second open end; Whereinsaid plurality of air inlets operate using the venturi principle toprovide increased air flow into said inflatable bladder.